The Gathering
4 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by MarthaK-H from Lewisham, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 16, 2008
To be read.
I bought this book as it was the winner of the Man Booker prize 2007 and I was drawn in by the blurb on the back cover:
'The nine surviving children of the Hegarty clan gather in Dublin for the wake of their wayward brother Liam. It wasn't the drink that killed him - although that certainly helped - it was what happened to him as a boy in his grandmother's house, in the winter of 1968.'
I'm afraid its not too hard to guess what happened to him, as I got it before I opened the book, although it is not revealed to you in the story until at least half way through.
However, I began by enjoying the book, which is not always an easy read as the main character Veronica (one of the sisters) drifts in and out of memories in a hazy, drugged kind of way & has the tendency to ramble about certain characters when I would have prefered the story to keep going. Some parts I really enjoyed, others were hard to read due to their content & some was just a bit odd.
Overall it was ok and worth a read to anyone who fancies it but am still not sure why it won the prize - although there is a comment about the authors 'remarkable intelligence' on the back cover. Must be just too intelligent for me!!!
'The nine surviving children of the Hegarty clan gather in Dublin for the wake of their wayward brother Liam. It wasn't the drink that killed him - although that certainly helped - it was what happened to him as a boy in his grandmother's house, in the winter of 1968.'
I'm afraid its not too hard to guess what happened to him, as I got it before I opened the book, although it is not revealed to you in the story until at least half way through.
However, I began by enjoying the book, which is not always an easy read as the main character Veronica (one of the sisters) drifts in and out of memories in a hazy, drugged kind of way & has the tendency to ramble about certain characters when I would have prefered the story to keep going. Some parts I really enjoyed, others were hard to read due to their content & some was just a bit odd.
Overall it was ok and worth a read to anyone who fancies it but am still not sure why it won the prize - although there is a comment about the authors 'remarkable intelligence' on the back cover. Must be just too intelligent for me!!!
Sent to first name on list as a book ray. Enjoy!
Names so far:
1) Fushmush, London
2) Soulbalm, Edinburgh
3) Swanofkennet, Cumbria
Names so far:
1) Fushmush, London
2) Soulbalm, Edinburgh
3) Swanofkennet, Cumbria
This was waiting for me when i returned from holidays. Sorry for the delay :D I have one other bookray ahead of this but I should get to it soon.
An interesting read. I actually read it while travelling on a bus tour around Ireland.
There a lot of negative reviews for this novel on Amazon. I definitely enjoyed the novel and was interested by the style. I must admit that I didn't guess what happened to Liam until it is revealed in the book. (Maybe I'm a bit thick *G*).
Definitely worth reading.
I have Soulbalm's address and will be posting tomorrow.
Update 18/06: Posted.
There a lot of negative reviews for this novel on Amazon. I definitely enjoyed the novel and was interested by the style. I must admit that I didn't guess what happened to Liam until it is revealed in the book. (Maybe I'm a bit thick *G*).
Definitely worth reading.
I have Soulbalm's address and will be posting tomorrow.
Update 18/06: Posted.
Book received. Thanks fushmush.
But I'm such a muppet - I'd forgotten I was on this ray and so have recently bought the book. I'll get Swanofkennet's address and send it on forthwith! (Otherwise I'll hold it up forever).
But I'm such a muppet - I'd forgotten I was on this ray and so have recently bought the book. I'll get Swanofkennet's address and send it on forthwith! (Otherwise I'll hold it up forever).
Oh how rubbish am I? I haven't read the book (as I have another copy of it now) and I still take this long to send it on. My excuse is that May - end of August is our crazy crazy time at work! It's just gone in the post today.
Arrived this morning - thank you, soulbalm!
